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Rooted and Resilient Homesteading Conference will offer hands-on learning for experts, beginners, youth
The Purdue Extension Rooted and Resilient Conference will offer over 40 expert-led sessions about homesteading. (Photo provided) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Extension’s Rooted and Resilient Homesteading Conference will return to Kendallville on Nov. 7-8 for its second year. The event brings together Purdue educators, local experts and passionate homesteaders to share the practical skills and knowledge needed to build a thriving, self-sufficient homestead.
Attendees can choose from over 40 sessions that cover topics such as fermentation, soap crafting, sheep and goat care, hog processing, composting, beekeeping, and storing homegrown produce. Friday’s lunchtime keynote sessions will discuss farm first aid, and Saturday’s keynote, presented by Graham Towerton, will cover permaculture. All experience levels are welcome.
Youth can participate in the conference through the “kidsteading” track on Nov. 8. The five hands-on sessions include “The Sky’s the Limit: Beginner Drone Fun” and “Fish Tales: Learning To Fish With Friends.”
One of last year’s attendees said, “This has been very well thought out and planned. All the speakers and sessions have been great. It was well worth the 2 1/2-hour drive.”
“Homesteading isn’t just about owning the quintessential farm and living off the land anymore,” said Elysia Rodgers, Extension educator and co-chair of this year’s conference. “It’s about doing small things to return to a home-based, family-centered, self-sufficient way of life.”
All sessions will take place at the Community Learning Center at 401 E. Diamond St. in Kendallville. Regular adult registration, which includes breakfast and lunch, runs from Oct. 1-18 and costs $90 for one day or $120 for both days. More information, including pricing for early bird, youth and late registration as well as details for optional hotel accommodations, can be found here.
Questions can be directed to Rodgers at eberry@purdue.edu or 260-925-2562. Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
If you are in need of accommodations to attend this program, please contact Rodgers prior to the meeting at eberry@purdue.edu or 260-925-2562 by Nov. 1. For special dietary needs, contact Rodgers at eberry@purdue.edu or 260-925-2562 by Nov. 1. If you need an interpreter or translator, please contact Rodgers at eberry@purdue.edu or 260-925-2562 by Nov. 1.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.
Writer: Olivia De Young, odeyoung@purdue.edu
Media contact: Devyn Ashlea Raver, draver@purdue.edu
Sources: Elysia Rodgers, eberry@purdue.edu
Agricultural Communications: Maureen Manier, mmanier@purdue.edu, 765-494-8415
